Coffee tables come in thousands of different shapes and sizes, as do living areas. When making your purchase you need to find the size and shape that will best match your room whilst still looking and functioning how you require. Some people consider the look of a coffee table their number one priority and may prefer a very large coffee table for maximum visual impact. Others prefer to maximize the amount of floor space available for other uses. As a general guideline it is preferable to have a minimum of two feet around each side of the coffee table and it should be reachable, without standing, from each of the seating areas. Some people also suggest that your coffee table should be no larger than sixty percent of your sofas length. The height that you choose very much depends on what you intend to use it for. Modern coffee tables are often very low; however this may make using it for eating difficult. It is often a good idea to place an item of a similar size and shape to any table that you intend to buy in the room. This will give you a feel for how it will work with the space that you have.

Rectangular coffee tables are the most popular shape on the market currently and come in a variety of heights and forms. They can be used in small or large rooms and can often make a large impact in a big room where a very large coffee table is required so as to be accessible from all of the furniture. Similarly square coffee tables are excellent in larger rooms although they can overpower smaller spaces when not chosen with care. If you are buying a square coffee table be sure to mark out the floor area that will be covered to make sure that it will not overwhelm the room.